Commentary Op-ed Essay

Introduction Paragraph

Hook

• It should begin with an attention grabber or hook. Please use a quote from your research. It should relate to your focus. Introduce it with a signal phrase and include an APA in-text citation.

Summary

• Describes the social issue you generated from your topic choice brainstorm
• Explain what the issue is at hand and provide some background and context information in your own words. It should about 3-5 sentences long.
• Should be in your own writing

Remember

• Make sure you are focused, and your topic is narrowed to that subject rather than an overview of the whole topic, such as basic technology or video games, etc.

Thesis Statement

• It should tell your reader where you stand on this issue and include three reasons of your own that prove your view or stance on the issue.

For Example

• Children diagnosed with ADHD are often over-medicated due to the glamorizing, over publicizing, and misconceptions about the disorder.
• Severe forms of cyberbullying should be punished as criminal offenses because they cause significant psychological damage, involve established illegal behaviors, and do not fall under First Amendment protection.

Thesis

• Topic + b/c + Reason A (will be paragraph one) + Reason B (will be paragraph two) + Reason C (will be paragraph three) = Thesis statement.
• There should be WiFi in the basement of the JFSB (topic) because all the other buildings have WiFi (Reason A), internet helps students in their personal studies (Reason B) and can help students in group learning situations (Reason C).

Examples That Show Persuasion

• Libraries are essential resources for communities & should be funded more heavily by local municipalities because of a, b, & c.
• Corporations should provide more work from home opportunities & six-hour workdays because of a, b,& c.

Untitled Slide

• Schools should provide educational resources for low-income students during the summers because of a, b, & c.